"Society Of Brethren" "Bruderhof" Place Names in North America and Europe (1997)

The "Society of Brothers" (SOB), is a "Bruderhof" group founded in
Germany in 1920 by Eberhard Arnold (1883-1935) that was persecuted by the Nazis, moved
to Liechtenstein, then England in the late 1930's and spent the World War II years in
Paraguay before coming to the United States in the early 1950's.

In 1974 Hostetler reports there were the SOB communities of Woodcrest in Rifton, NY, Oak
Lane (became New Meadow Run) in Farmington Pennsylvania, Evergreen in Norfolk,
Connecticut and Darvell at Robertsbridge, Sussex, England. Hostetler notes that the two
groups have simular value orientations, but characterizes the Society of Brothers as a
"charismatic movement" in distinction to the "traditional communal group" of Hutterites.

The "Society of Brothers" also calls themselves the "Hutterian Brethren". They are under the
leadership of J. (Johann) Christof Arnold, the head elder at the Rifton New York colony and
a grandson of the founder. He has confirmed reports that they have eight communities that
they traditionally call Bruderhofs. Separate estimates places them at about 300 persons per
community, larger than the 90 person average of traditional Hutterite colonies in Canada and
the western United States.

Publishing Activities: The Society had established Plough Publishing House in
England by 1940 and had moved it to Woodcrest at Rifton New York by 1964. Presently
the order department for this publishing house is located at Farmington, Pennsylvania. They
publish "The Chronicle of the Hutterite Brethren" (US$43.00 postpaid to U.S.
addresses) and two other books on the history of the Hutterian Brethren, as well as the
Plough" a monthly periodical, other writings of three generations of Arnold leaders
and a line of related religious publications. (Call 1-800-521-8011 for a catalog).

"Society of Brothers" Bruderhofs 1920 -1997

Year Founded ... Bruderhof Name ... Location: City, State, Country ... Parent
Colony